Roger B Chaffee Elementary School

Posted: September 14, 2025

Posted: September 14, 2025

Posted: September 14, 2025

Posted: September 14, 2025

Posted: September 14, 2025

Posted: September 14, 2025

Posted: September 14, 2025

My grandson and I both endured a deeply traumatic experience at this school. He lost his mother at the very beginning of the 2022 school year, and we had just laid her to rest when he returned to school. Understandably, he began to struggle emotionally and academically. Instead of receiving support, he was placed in a second-grade classroom with a newly graduated teacher who showed no compassion and appeared unequipped to handle a grieving child.

Despite my repeated requests for help, the school responded with punitive measures—silent lunches and walking during recess for weeks at a time. My grandson cried daily and begged to attend a different school. I held multiple meetings with teachers, the principal, and the school counselor, but nothing changed.

He was also bullied by other students, including cruel remarks about his deceased mother. The school failed to intervene or provide any meaningful emotional support. His academic performance plummeted from being an A student to failing, and the teacher seemed to single him out for every minor behavior—things that are typical for second graders. I received near-daily texts from the teacher about trivial incidents, making it clear that all eyes were on him while other students were not held to the same scrutiny.

The situation became so concerning that I placed him in private counseling. His counselor, after working closely with him, told me plainly: his teacher was bullying him. Every day, he was subjected to emotional distress not just from peers, but from the very adult who was supposed to guide and protect him.

He was physically bullied as well—slapped, hit, kicked, and punched by other students—and yet no action was taken. There was a complete lack of empathy, protection, and accountability. This school failed my grandson during one of the most vulnerable times in his life, and it failed me as a grandparent trying to advocate for him.

I’ve waited a long time to write this review—not because the pain has faded, but because I needed time to calm down and find the right words. The anger and heartbreak we experienced were overwhelming, and I wanted to speak from a place of clarity, not just emotion. Families deserve to know what we went through, and children deserve better than what this school provided.

Transferring my grandson to a magnet school was the best decision I’ve ever made. We finally found a place where he could be supported, respected, and begin to rebuild.

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

Posted: May 13, 2025

This school strives to exclude parents at all cost, they criticize children and punish them for situations completely out of the child's control. They do not value parent input. The school takes every opportunity they can find to make children feel sad and unwanted.

Posted: December 8, 2023

Posted: December 8, 2023

Posted: December 8, 2023

Posted: December 8, 2023

Posted: December 8, 2023

Posted: December 8, 2023

Posted: December 8, 2023

Posted: December 8, 2023

Some of the teachers here are really good. The ones that are bad are really bad. Some of the teachers put the children down. They say mean things to hurt the children. When issues are presented to the principal they are ignored. The school claim they care for thier students but that is not the case. I do not recommend this school.

Posted: September 14, 2023

Posted: September 14, 2023

Posted: September 14, 2023

Posted: September 14, 2023

Posted: September 14, 2023

Posted: September 14, 2023

Posted: September 14, 2023

Posted: September 14, 2023

I was very worried about my daughter going to a school in Huntsville. But I love the location, the teachers, and the environment.

Posted: February 13, 2023

My child's teacher is amazing but the over all environment does not support growth. The after school program is despicable and does not provide adequate safety. The building is old and run down

Posted: February 13, 2023

Posted: April 5, 2020

All the teachers are so attentive and kind! They truly make the school feel like a family.

Posted: April 5, 2020

Posted: April 5, 2020

We love the principal at Chaffee, as well as all of the administrative staff. They are involved and helpful and really have a passion for education.

Posted: April 5, 2020

Posted: April 5, 2020

Posted: April 5, 2020

We love Chaffee! We will be Chaffee supporters for life.

Posted: April 5, 2020

Posted: April 4, 2020

My son's teacher has been REMARKABLE. She has an individualized approach to teaching, while still meeting the demands of the classroom. I have also found the entire "kindergarten team" has worked together to educate the students. My son loves and admires all three of the kindergarten team teachers - and we are grateful for each of them!

Posted: April 4, 2020

At Chaffee, you can expect your child will not only excel academically, but the staff is consistently teaching positive morals and values. My son has not grown just in his knowledge, but also in his character.

Posted: April 4, 2020

Mr. Walker is an outstanding administrator and a remarkable leader. He is in my son's classroom on a regular basis and my son lists him as one of his heroes (right up there with Spiderman - so that is saying something!) Mr. Walker is thoughtful, deliberate, and effective. As a mom, I truly appreciate his leadership at Chaffee and the positive influence he has on his students.

Posted: April 4, 2020

Posted: April 4, 2020

Posted: April 4, 2020

Chaffee Elementary has been an incredible blessing to my children and our family. This was our first experience with a public school system, and Huntsville City Schools did not disappoint! If you are looking for a small, neighborhood school, and an inclusive learning environment for your child, Chaffee is the school for your children!

Posted: April 4, 2020

The homework is communicated weekly with the parents in Kindergarten. We spend about 10 minutes a day on homework and it has complemented the curriculum being taught in the classroom.

Posted: April 20, 2018

Posted: April 20, 2018

Posted: April 20, 2018

Posted: April 20, 2018

Posted: April 20, 2018

Posted: April 20, 2018

Posted: April 20, 2018

This school is an excellent school and my son loves it.

Posted: May 18, 2016

Chaffee is a comfortable, friendly, warm, inviting environment for my entire family. My husband and I have 4 sons. Our oldest attended Chaffee from 1st to 5th grade. Our middle boys attend currently, and our youngest is still in private PreK, but the office staff, and many of the Chaffee teachers know him by name, anyway because they know our family. It is a tight knit community. Many of the staff have been at Chaffee for years and years. As new teachers / administrators come on board they quickly adopt the wonderful. positive atmosphere and it trickles all the way from the top down. I love our little school and feel so blessed to have ended up within its boundaries!

Posted: May 18, 2016

Posted: May 18, 2016

Posted: May 18, 2016

Posted: April 16, 2014

I went to Chaffee as a kid, and now my child goes there. This is the second school in HSV that my daughter has attended, and we are so much happier here! She is only in K, but she had already decided that she didn't like school and was determined that she couldn't learn to read (to the point of crying after only 2 words). After only 2 days at Chaffee, she was excited to go to school again and started breezing through her reading and feeling proud of herself again. She's happy to be at school and doing much better on her learning - is there anything more that can be asked of a school?

Posted: February 26, 2014

so far a great school i am very happy and proud off chaffe. we arrived from out of state and they were very open and good to us.

Posted: February 25, 2014

You hear a lot of negative stories about schools these days, but Chaffee is really lucky to have Principal Scott. My son and another boy had to get something from another building during class. On the way back they stopped and were looking at their fellow students' art, talking about how good the drawings were. They froze when Principal Scott said "Boys come over here" thinking they were in trouble. Instead of being in trouble for talking in the hallways between class, they were rewarded for praising their fellow students. We need more school leaders like him. Also, every teacher we have come in contact with at Chaffee has been top notch. Chaffee has made a huge difference with my son.

Posted: December 9, 2013

Chaffee is a great school that gives parents, students, teachers, administrators and all community stakeholders the opportunity to work together to make sure that every child is college and career ready. Everyone takes pride and is willing to go that extra mile and do whatever it takes to make sure that all students are engaged and learning. What a great place to be!

Posted: November 17, 2013

Chaffee is an excellent elementary school that is surrounded by a vary caring community. The teachers are excellent and parents are very involved. Our new principal is taking our school in a great direction. Class sizes are just right for teachers to help students one on one.

Posted: October 4, 2013

I am so appreciative that my children have the opportunity to attend Chaffee Elementary! We have a new principal Mr. Scott that is outstanding! We have been blessed to have the most top notch teachers within the school system. I have never seen such loving and caring teachers that truly want each and everyone of their students to succeed. My daughter just graduated from Chaffee last year and my younger daughter is in the third grade so I have really had the opportunity to get to know the teachers and the staff there. We love Chaffee due to the leadership and the wonderful teachers. Would not want my children to go to any other school! Thank you to all the teachers that have been there for my children. We so appreciate you all!

Posted: October 3, 2013

Our son/ grandson is in kindergarden at Chaffee and we are so pleased his teacher is so wonderful. She has 29yrs teaching experience and is the most loving and caring teacher. If you have a child going into Kindergarden in this school district please go to Chaffee and go meet the teacher & principal he is a God send too.We were seriously considering Whitesburg Christian Academy and or so glad we choose Chaffee Elementary -sometimes our public schools can be better.

Posted: January 15, 2013

Not satified with this school. If you live 2miles or less from the school your child can NOT be picked up by a bus (in the city???). Teachers classrooms are more than 20 students some almost 30 so when your child asks for 5mins of a teachers time to help explain something better the usual response is "I dont have time". If youre childs falling behind(but never has in any other school) because of this and you talk to the teacher and or principal you might be told your child should see a doctor and be put on medication! Theyre not on top of things in the office in updating information such as phone number changes,ect. Theres only a counceler there once a week for the children. No aids in the school to help a child/teacher when help is oviously needed. When theres a problem with a school computer that is assigned to your student...the response always heard is "i cant help you im sorry". My child has been bullied numerous times but when he tells the teacher he gets the same response "stop tattling". If we as parents cant trust our school system..where do we turn? This is something that needs to be addressed! What ever happend to no child left behind?